primes

Noun

prime (plural primes)

1. (historical) The first hour of daylight; the first canonical hour.
   • His larum bell might lowd and wyde be hard,
     When cause requyrd, but neuer out of time;
     Early and late it rong, at euening and at prime.1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto IX”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, page 314
2. The religious service appointed to this hour.
3. (obsolete) The early morning generally.
   • They all as glad, as birdes of ioyous Pryme […]1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto VI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, page 81

   Synonyms:

   early morning

4. (archaic) The earliest stage of something.
   • To this end we see how quickly sundry artes Mechanical were found out in the very prime of the world.[1594], Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], 3rd edition, London: […] Will[iam] Stansby [for Matthew Lownes], published 1611, →OCLC, book II, page...
5. The most active, thriving, or successful stage or period.
   • When I do count the clock that tells the time,
     And see the brave day sunk in hideous night;
     When I behold the violet past prime,
     And sable curls all silver’d o'er with white;1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 12”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC

   Synonyms:

   bloom, blossom, efflorescence, flower, flush, heyday, peak

6. The chief or best individual or part.
   • Give him always of the prime;
     And but a little at a time.1726, Jonathan Swift, “To a Lady, who desired the author to write some verses upon her in the heroic style” in The Works of Dr. Jonathan Swift, London: W. Bowyer et al., Volume 7, p. 396, Give no...

   Synonyms:

   choice, prize, quality, select

See all 40 meanings of prime